Friday, November 21, 2008
source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
After stepping up prosecution and deploying manpower even at night to catch violators of traffic rules, the cops are now turning to
innovative means in a bid to teach Delhiites how to drive better. Starting Tuesday, motorists getting challaned will be handed a detailed booklet on road safety and laws, which is expected to "educate'' them about the law and make them better drivers.
As part of the exercise, aimed at making Delhi roads safer by instilling more discipline among drivers, traffic policemen deployed all around the city have been handed a book, `A Guide to Road Safety', which is being given out free of cost to every driver prosecuted for a traffic offence along with the challan slip. The booklet, created in-house by Delhi Police, details the rules of driving on the roads, qualities of a good driver, road safety tips, road markings and signs, major traffic offences concerning safety and speed limits.
The different approach adopted by the cops took motorists by surprise. "I was stopped for crossing the stop line on Mathura Road. Just as I started explaining how it was a mistake, the policeman issuing the challan gave me a small book with the slip. He asked me to read it thoroughly so that I become a better driver,'' said Munish Kumar, who was prosecuted near Pragati Maidan.
In a scenario where getting a driving license is an easy task and large section of those who are actually granted the license have little knowledge of the rules that they are actually supposed to adhere to on the road, the booklet could go a long way in educating Delhi's masses.
According to the traffic police, over 95 per cent of the accidents are a result of careless behaviour on roads and can be prevented with better driving. As joint commissioner of police (traffic), SN Shrivastava, puts it: "The idea of prosecution is to penalise people so that they don't repeat the offence. But we were noticing that prosecution is not having this impact. In order to ensure effectiveness, the book is given out too.''
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Administration pulled up over entry fee charged by parking contractors
Friday, November 21, 2008
source: http://www.expressindia.com
The Punjab and Haryana High Court took the UT Administration to task on Wednesday over the parking fee being charged from commuters for merely entering a parking lot, even if they do not actually keep vehicles there.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur and Justice Jasbir Singh was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Ajay Jagga. The PIL seeks directions to ensure that parking fee should not be charged on the movement of vehicles on a public road in any market area unless the vehicle is actually parked in the slots adjoining the passage.
“How can you insist on charging a person who has not even parked the car in a parking area? How have you allowed all this to take place in the city?” Thakur asked the counsel appearing for the Administration.
Responding to the query, the law officer submitted that this had been done to reduce heavy traffic in parking areas. “We are spoilt so much that we tend to take our vehicles to the very shop or building we are visiting,” said the law officer.
Refusing to show any conviction in the averments, the Chief Justice observed: “That does not mean you put a ban on commuters from entering into a
parking area.”
The Chief Justice disapproved of the fact that parking contractors posted their employees to put barricades and stop vehicles from entering the parking area until the fee was paid. He asked: “Suppose a person has come to drop someone or is waiting to pick up someone, does that mean you will charge parking fee from him too?”
The court asked the Administration to look into the issue seriously and ensure that those who entered a parking area but did not park vehicles should not be forced to pay any fee. “Putting a barricade and asking people to pay is not done,” the Chief Justice remarked.
Giving instance of illegal parking fee charged by contractors in Delhi, the Chief Justice told the UT counsel that it should ensure that illegal contractors are not allowed to function.
“These contractors have their own techniques. In Delhi, there were unauthorised contractors. Some people just occupy a parking area and keep their hoodlums and start charging money,” said Thakur.
The UT counsel has been directed to seek instructions from the Administration on the issue.
CHB told to pay up for not filing reply
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) to pay up Rs 2,500 for not filing reply to a petition despite being given repeated opportunities.
A Division Bench headed by Justice M M Kumar was hearing a petition challenging the Self Financing Housing Scheme for UT employees that was pending in the High Court.
The CHB had been earlier told several times to file its reply to the petition.
A bunch of petitions were filed by various UT employees, accusing the Administration of making a tailor-made scheme for higher rank officers and depriving junior officers.
During the last hearing two weeks ago, the Division Bench had given a last opportunity to the Administration to file a written reply.
source: http://www.expressindia.com
The Punjab and Haryana High Court took the UT Administration to task on Wednesday over the parking fee being charged from commuters for merely entering a parking lot, even if they do not actually keep vehicles there.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur and Justice Jasbir Singh was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Ajay Jagga. The PIL seeks directions to ensure that parking fee should not be charged on the movement of vehicles on a public road in any market area unless the vehicle is actually parked in the slots adjoining the passage.
“How can you insist on charging a person who has not even parked the car in a parking area? How have you allowed all this to take place in the city?” Thakur asked the counsel appearing for the Administration.
Responding to the query, the law officer submitted that this had been done to reduce heavy traffic in parking areas. “We are spoilt so much that we tend to take our vehicles to the very shop or building we are visiting,” said the law officer.
Refusing to show any conviction in the averments, the Chief Justice observed: “That does not mean you put a ban on commuters from entering into a
parking area.”
The Chief Justice disapproved of the fact that parking contractors posted their employees to put barricades and stop vehicles from entering the parking area until the fee was paid. He asked: “Suppose a person has come to drop someone or is waiting to pick up someone, does that mean you will charge parking fee from him too?”
The court asked the Administration to look into the issue seriously and ensure that those who entered a parking area but did not park vehicles should not be forced to pay any fee. “Putting a barricade and asking people to pay is not done,” the Chief Justice remarked.
Giving instance of illegal parking fee charged by contractors in Delhi, the Chief Justice told the UT counsel that it should ensure that illegal contractors are not allowed to function.
“These contractors have their own techniques. In Delhi, there were unauthorised contractors. Some people just occupy a parking area and keep their hoodlums and start charging money,” said Thakur.
The UT counsel has been directed to seek instructions from the Administration on the issue.
CHB told to pay up for not filing reply
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) to pay up Rs 2,500 for not filing reply to a petition despite being given repeated opportunities.
A Division Bench headed by Justice M M Kumar was hearing a petition challenging the Self Financing Housing Scheme for UT employees that was pending in the High Court.
The CHB had been earlier told several times to file its reply to the petition.
A bunch of petitions were filed by various UT employees, accusing the Administration of making a tailor-made scheme for higher rank officers and depriving junior officers.
During the last hearing two weeks ago, the Division Bench had given a last opportunity to the Administration to file a written reply.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Parking lease by MCD on pvt land stayed
Saturday, November 15, 2008
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
The Delhi High Court has stayed an award of a parking contract to a private contractor by MCD after the owner of the land challenged it
before HC.
A division bench of HC stayed the license awarded by MCD in Udyog Nagar Industrial Area. The land belongs to a co-operative society which alleged that this action of MCD was illegal as the road and adjoining streets were not ''public streets'' but private ones.
Seeking a stay through lawyer Rakesh Makhija, "Manufacturers Co-operative Ind Estate Ltd'' argued before HC that they had only roped in MCD for maintenance of roads inside their industrial complex but the civic agency went ahead and leased out a parking award to a private player who has nothing to do with the society.
Enumerating the dates, the society informed the court that MCD was brought into the picture in 1975 for simple maintenance of roads for which the members paid a fixed sum to the agency. However, in October this year, members were surprised to see a private contractor who turned up and demanded money from car owners. He waived a contract granted by MCD to bolster his claims and said it was a public street with MCD as its owner and therefore, people have to cough up parking fee. the contractor also informed members that he was shelling out a monthly amount to MCD in return for this license.
The members rushed to court seeking relief, saying they had been reduced to paying money for parking vehicles on their own land. They also alleged that MCD didn't even bother to inform the society members that it had brought in a private contractor to oversee parking.
MCD on its part, claimed that the roads belonged to it by virtue of society transferring maintenance to it. The civic agency defended its decision, arguing the discretion remained with MCD on what to do with this road and adjoining area which was being maintained by it.
When the case was heard first by a single judge, he refused to stay the contract and jointly sought a response from the civic agency, prompting the petitioners to again move HC before a division bench. They argued that without an interim stay, they were being forced to pay money for parking inside the area.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
The Delhi High Court has stayed an award of a parking contract to a private contractor by MCD after the owner of the land challenged it
before HC.
A division bench of HC stayed the license awarded by MCD in Udyog Nagar Industrial Area. The land belongs to a co-operative society which alleged that this action of MCD was illegal as the road and adjoining streets were not ''public streets'' but private ones.
Seeking a stay through lawyer Rakesh Makhija, "Manufacturers Co-operative Ind Estate Ltd'' argued before HC that they had only roped in MCD for maintenance of roads inside their industrial complex but the civic agency went ahead and leased out a parking award to a private player who has nothing to do with the society.
Enumerating the dates, the society informed the court that MCD was brought into the picture in 1975 for simple maintenance of roads for which the members paid a fixed sum to the agency. However, in October this year, members were surprised to see a private contractor who turned up and demanded money from car owners. He waived a contract granted by MCD to bolster his claims and said it was a public street with MCD as its owner and therefore, people have to cough up parking fee. the contractor also informed members that he was shelling out a monthly amount to MCD in return for this license.
The members rushed to court seeking relief, saying they had been reduced to paying money for parking vehicles on their own land. They also alleged that MCD didn't even bother to inform the society members that it had brought in a private contractor to oversee parking.
MCD on its part, claimed that the roads belonged to it by virtue of society transferring maintenance to it. The civic agency defended its decision, arguing the discretion remained with MCD on what to do with this road and adjoining area which was being maintained by it.
When the case was heard first by a single judge, he refused to stay the contract and jointly sought a response from the civic agency, prompting the petitioners to again move HC before a division bench. They argued that without an interim stay, they were being forced to pay money for parking inside the area.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
NDMC’s multi-lot parking project set to take off
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Source: http://www.hindu.com
The New Delhi Municipal Council’s much written about project on development of a multi-lot parking at Sarojini Nagar and Baba Kharak Singh Marg could take off soon with the civic body submitting the modified drawings of the project to the Delhi Urban Arts Commission and fire service for approval recently.
The plan has already been cleared by the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
The project developed on build-operate-transfer basis as a public private partnership project had been inaugurated by the civic body and the concessionaire DLF in December 2007.
An NDMC official said: “The initial project designs submitted to us by DLF at the time of bidding have been evaluated and we have submitted the final drawings of the multi-lot parking after modifying them as per norms of DUAC and building bye-laws. Once the pending approvals from DUAC and fire service are cleared, excavation could begin by the first week of November.”
According to DLF spokesperson Rajeev Talwar, after the approval from the fire service and DUAC, a “consent to establish” also has to be obtained from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee before starting work on the site.
Apart from Sarojini Nagar and Baba Kharak Singh Marg, the NDMC will also be building a multi-lot parking at Kasturba Gandhi Marg in partnership with concessionaire DS Constructions.
Necessary approvals are pending in this project as well. The multi-lot parking facility would enable vehicle owners to park their vehicles through an automated system into a vacant lot of the multi-floored building to be built at the three identified locations in the NDMC area.
Source: http://www.hindu.com
The New Delhi Municipal Council’s much written about project on development of a multi-lot parking at Sarojini Nagar and Baba Kharak Singh Marg could take off soon with the civic body submitting the modified drawings of the project to the Delhi Urban Arts Commission and fire service for approval recently.
The plan has already been cleared by the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
The project developed on build-operate-transfer basis as a public private partnership project had been inaugurated by the civic body and the concessionaire DLF in December 2007.
An NDMC official said: “The initial project designs submitted to us by DLF at the time of bidding have been evaluated and we have submitted the final drawings of the multi-lot parking after modifying them as per norms of DUAC and building bye-laws. Once the pending approvals from DUAC and fire service are cleared, excavation could begin by the first week of November.”
According to DLF spokesperson Rajeev Talwar, after the approval from the fire service and DUAC, a “consent to establish” also has to be obtained from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee before starting work on the site.
Apart from Sarojini Nagar and Baba Kharak Singh Marg, the NDMC will also be building a multi-lot parking at Kasturba Gandhi Marg in partnership with concessionaire DS Constructions.
Necessary approvals are pending in this project as well. The multi-lot parking facility would enable vehicle owners to park their vehicles through an automated system into a vacant lot of the multi-floored building to be built at the three identified locations in the NDMC area.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Speed-check cameras hit road block as police, govt fight over tender
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Source: http://www.indianexpress.com
Ahead of the Commonwealth Games, the police’s plan to put up hi-tech cameras in 18 of the Capital’s intersections has been kept on a tight leash by red tape, with the Government now asking questions about the tendering process.
Though tenders were issued eight months ago, the government asked the traffic police to issue fresh tenders as it apprehended litigation from the firm which was initially rejected. Since then this project — to install cameras that would have kept speeding in check — has been in limbo.
Global tenders were first floated on October 5, 2007. Four firms responded — Turbo Consultancy Services, Almighty Techserv, Bharat Electronics Limited and Adtech Systems. A technical inspection of their equipment was carried out by the police on January 14. The inspecting panel included police officials, professor at the Indian Institute of Technology M Jagadesh Kumar, the dean of School of Planning and Architecture Professor A K Sharma, and scientist S Velmurgan from the Central Road Research Institute.
Chennai-based Adtech Systems failed to showcase the equipment and was rejected. Turbo Consultancy Service was also overlooked for the poor quality of their supply.
The Delhi Police’s purchase committee then opened the financial bid on February 4 this year, after the technical committee nodded at the other two firms — Bharat Electronics and Turbo. Bharat Electronics Limited bid almost 22 per cent less and was given the job on February 14.
However, the government raised its first objection before the procurement process could begin on February 20. Turbo Consultancy Services had objected to the manner in which the tendering was concluded, it said. The Delhi Police asked the government the exact nature of the objection but was told to furnish a certificate which would say: “The successful bidders has met with the technical specification as mentioned in the tender and due process of tendering has been observed in the instant case.”
The police issued the certificate on March 18, but the government decided to go for re-tendering on March 31.
Since April, the file has not moved with the police, only words have been exchanged. Additional Commissioner (General Administration) R S Krishnia wrote to the government in May saying: “We can not go for re-tendering merely on the apprehension of litigation.” Police sources said each time a tender is issued, the police spends Rs 80,000 on advertisement alone.
Meanwhile, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has also knocked on the doors of Lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna. The company now plans to drag the Government to court, more so because BEL has taken delivery of the cameras from a German firm, sources said.
Till the matter is resolved, Joint Commissioner (traffic) S N Shrivastava said the police will concentrate on the intelligent traffic system — another savvy network of synchronised traffic lights, cameras etc.
Shoppers stop city
Traffic came down to a crawl on several city roads on Diwali-eve. The Ring Road remained choked between Naraina T-point and Brar Square. In West Delhi, traffic crawled between Meera Bagh and Paschim Vihar; in Pitampura, jams stretched from three to four hours. Even New Delhi area, normally free of traffic jams, was clogged as jams were reported from Aurangzeb Road.
Source: http://www.indianexpress.com
Ahead of the Commonwealth Games, the police’s plan to put up hi-tech cameras in 18 of the Capital’s intersections has been kept on a tight leash by red tape, with the Government now asking questions about the tendering process.
Though tenders were issued eight months ago, the government asked the traffic police to issue fresh tenders as it apprehended litigation from the firm which was initially rejected. Since then this project — to install cameras that would have kept speeding in check — has been in limbo.
Global tenders were first floated on October 5, 2007. Four firms responded — Turbo Consultancy Services, Almighty Techserv, Bharat Electronics Limited and Adtech Systems. A technical inspection of their equipment was carried out by the police on January 14. The inspecting panel included police officials, professor at the Indian Institute of Technology M Jagadesh Kumar, the dean of School of Planning and Architecture Professor A K Sharma, and scientist S Velmurgan from the Central Road Research Institute.
Chennai-based Adtech Systems failed to showcase the equipment and was rejected. Turbo Consultancy Service was also overlooked for the poor quality of their supply.
The Delhi Police’s purchase committee then opened the financial bid on February 4 this year, after the technical committee nodded at the other two firms — Bharat Electronics and Turbo. Bharat Electronics Limited bid almost 22 per cent less and was given the job on February 14.
However, the government raised its first objection before the procurement process could begin on February 20. Turbo Consultancy Services had objected to the manner in which the tendering was concluded, it said. The Delhi Police asked the government the exact nature of the objection but was told to furnish a certificate which would say: “The successful bidders has met with the technical specification as mentioned in the tender and due process of tendering has been observed in the instant case.”
The police issued the certificate on March 18, but the government decided to go for re-tendering on March 31.
Since April, the file has not moved with the police, only words have been exchanged. Additional Commissioner (General Administration) R S Krishnia wrote to the government in May saying: “We can not go for re-tendering merely on the apprehension of litigation.” Police sources said each time a tender is issued, the police spends Rs 80,000 on advertisement alone.
Meanwhile, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has also knocked on the doors of Lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna. The company now plans to drag the Government to court, more so because BEL has taken delivery of the cameras from a German firm, sources said.
Till the matter is resolved, Joint Commissioner (traffic) S N Shrivastava said the police will concentrate on the intelligent traffic system — another savvy network of synchronised traffic lights, cameras etc.
Shoppers stop city
Traffic came down to a crawl on several city roads on Diwali-eve. The Ring Road remained choked between Naraina T-point and Brar Square. In West Delhi, traffic crawled between Meera Bagh and Paschim Vihar; in Pitampura, jams stretched from three to four hours. Even New Delhi area, normally free of traffic jams, was clogged as jams were reported from Aurangzeb Road.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
No plan to ban small cars to ease traffic woes
Friday, October 24, 2008
http://www.indianexpress.com
Government on Thursday ruled out banning small cars to ease traffic problem in big cities and said it was instead focussing on augmenting the public transport system.
"I don't think I can do that," Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy responded to Manohar Joshi's (Shiv Sena) query during Question Hour if the Government will consider banning small cars to ease traffic congestions in cities like Mumbai.
"We are (instead) trying to lay emphasis on public transport system," Reddy said adding Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) had already been sanctioned in 10 cities besides Metro Rail projects.
To encourage greater use of public transport and non-motorised mode of transport, BRTS projects in Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat, Indore, Bhopal, Pune/Pimpri-Chinchwad, Vijayawada, Vishakhapatnam and Jaipur have been approved.
Central Government was providing assistance for Delhi Metro Rail project and same model assistance was being provided or proposed to be provided for Kolkata, Bangalore and Chennai Metro.
Assistance for Hyderabad and Mumbai Metro is being provided or proposed to be provided as Viability Gap Funding, he said.
Urban transport, he said, was primarily a state subject but the Central Government was extending assistance to states under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.
Nine pilgrim towns with less than one million population have been included in the list of mission cities where the Centre was funding projects to ease urban traffic congestion, he said.
http://www.indianexpress.com
Government on Thursday ruled out banning small cars to ease traffic problem in big cities and said it was instead focussing on augmenting the public transport system.
"I don't think I can do that," Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy responded to Manohar Joshi's (Shiv Sena) query during Question Hour if the Government will consider banning small cars to ease traffic congestions in cities like Mumbai.
"We are (instead) trying to lay emphasis on public transport system," Reddy said adding Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) had already been sanctioned in 10 cities besides Metro Rail projects.
To encourage greater use of public transport and non-motorised mode of transport, BRTS projects in Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat, Indore, Bhopal, Pune/Pimpri-Chinchwad, Vijayawada, Vishakhapatnam and Jaipur have been approved.
Central Government was providing assistance for Delhi Metro Rail project and same model assistance was being provided or proposed to be provided for Kolkata, Bangalore and Chennai Metro.
Assistance for Hyderabad and Mumbai Metro is being provided or proposed to be provided as Viability Gap Funding, he said.
Urban transport, he said, was primarily a state subject but the Central Government was extending assistance to states under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.
Nine pilgrim towns with less than one million population have been included in the list of mission cities where the Centre was funding projects to ease urban traffic congestion, he said.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
News Update - Thursday, October 16, 2008
Speed guns will watch you at night
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
In an attempt to make the city's roads safe at night, the Delhi traffic police is procuring upgraded speed guns that can detect the speed of a vehicle even after dark and also take photographs as evidence. Unlike the present radar guns being used by the cops, the new ones are fitted with cameras with a strong flash that is effective even on very dark stretches.
The new devices, which will hit the roads in a couple of months. The guns have a wide vision — they can automatically detect violators within a range of five lanes. There is very little human interference. The speed guns being used now by the traffic police can detect a vehicle's speed only when these are pointed towards it.
In the new system, the data about the vehicles can be transmitted to a laptop at a backup station within a one-km radius through a wireless system.
The traffic police have already initiated the procurement process. "We are going to get 15 speed guns to start with which should be in use by the end of this financial year. More such guns will be procured in phases after that so that our existing speed guns can be upgraded for better enforcement," said S N Shrivastava, joint commissioner of police (traffic). Each unit will cost Rs 15-20 lakh.
At present, the traffic police has 11 mounted speed guns which are fixed onto interceptors or poles. All of these are attached to cameras which click photographs of the vehicles breaking rules. But none of the cameras is flash-enabled. In addition, there are another 100 portable speed guns which detect the speed of only the vehicle they are pointed at. These are not fitted with cameras.
Since the new system is completely automated and the records of all the vehicles are created instantly and sent to a backup device, this is expected to check corruption. There won’t be scope for ‘negotiations’. Though these speed guns may have come as a boon for enforcement agencies, elsewhere a debate has been raging on the accuracy of the devices. In developed countries, it has been observed that speed guns do not always give accurate results though the traffic police swear by their accuracy.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
In an attempt to make the city's roads safe at night, the Delhi traffic police is procuring upgraded speed guns that can detect the speed of a vehicle even after dark and also take photographs as evidence. Unlike the present radar guns being used by the cops, the new ones are fitted with cameras with a strong flash that is effective even on very dark stretches.
The new devices, which will hit the roads in a couple of months. The guns have a wide vision — they can automatically detect violators within a range of five lanes. There is very little human interference. The speed guns being used now by the traffic police can detect a vehicle's speed only when these are pointed towards it.
In the new system, the data about the vehicles can be transmitted to a laptop at a backup station within a one-km radius through a wireless system.
The traffic police have already initiated the procurement process. "We are going to get 15 speed guns to start with which should be in use by the end of this financial year. More such guns will be procured in phases after that so that our existing speed guns can be upgraded for better enforcement," said S N Shrivastava, joint commissioner of police (traffic). Each unit will cost Rs 15-20 lakh.
At present, the traffic police has 11 mounted speed guns which are fixed onto interceptors or poles. All of these are attached to cameras which click photographs of the vehicles breaking rules. But none of the cameras is flash-enabled. In addition, there are another 100 portable speed guns which detect the speed of only the vehicle they are pointed at. These are not fitted with cameras.
Since the new system is completely automated and the records of all the vehicles are created instantly and sent to a backup device, this is expected to check corruption. There won’t be scope for ‘negotiations’. Though these speed guns may have come as a boon for enforcement agencies, elsewhere a debate has been raging on the accuracy of the devices. In developed countries, it has been observed that speed guns do not always give accurate results though the traffic police swear by their accuracy.
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